The Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) has completed a R39 million renovation to the City’s drug rehab centre, Golden Harvest.

Nestled in the serene surroundings of the Golden Harvest Park in North Riding, the facility is the only drug rehabilitation centre subsidised by the City of Johannesburg

With this refurbishment, Golden Harvest has grown from a three-bedroomed suburban house cramming 12 boys into a sprawling modern building, with a capacity to accommodate 24 boys and 22 girls between the ages of 12 and 17 years. All 23 new guestrooms are more spacious and have been redone to create a park retreat.

The new building, which has been four years in the making, boasts the following features:

• An accommodation block An administration block A detox unit A visitor’s wing• A high care facility for treating addicts displaying withdrawal symptoms• A well-fitted modern kitchen• More spacious rooms housing two patients at a time• A group therapy room• A dining room• A laundry area with washing machines, dryers and dish washers• Three therapy rooms• Two prayer rooms• A staff kitchen• A staff bathroom

With construction complete, the facility will soon be furnished to get it ready for use, says the JDA’s Alice Moloto.

Netta Gallant, Manager of the facility, says the renovations mean that the youngsters will have more space to grow holistically.

The Drug Rehabilitation Centre is subsidised by the City’s Department of Social and Development and is currently operated by SANCA on behalf of the City of Johannesburg.

The JDA has handed over the project to Social Development and awaiting the launch of the project.

The Acting CEO of JDA, Christo Botes, said the centre was completed through partnering with local communities and stakeholders and produced solutions to meet local needs and mitigate drug and alcohol abuse challenges.

He added that working with local stakeholders was a more responsible and effective approach by drawing on their knowledge of the development context.